Supply Chain Warehousing, Intermodal Transport & Facility Location

The assignment content outlines the assessment criteria for a module on warehousing, transport, and inventory management. The criteria cover knowledge and understanding, argument or logical reasoning, and structure and alignment. The marks range from 0-100, with the highest mark indicating excellent work that challenges received wisdom and sustains argument or logical reasoning. The criteria highlight the importance of critical thinking, analysis, and evaluation in relation to the module's concepts and theories.

Topic 1:
Warehousing in its many forms appears at different points across supply chain networks. Intermodal choice is also important for the overall
performance of the supply chain. Choose a company to: describe and examine its warehouse facilities and inventory; identify and explain its
intermodal choice; and critically evaluate the link between the warehouse, inventory and the intermodal choice.
This question carries 45% of the marks.
Topic 2:
Facility location is considered key to business success. Choose a company to: identify and explain the reasons and objectives for its location
decision; critically evaluate the factors the company took into account when selecting this location; and examine whether or not this location
can support the company’s future expansion.
This question carries 45% of the marks.
The remaining 10% of the marks are awarded for executive summary, presentation, grammar, style, and layout.
Please answer these two topics separately under numbered headings/sub-headings and use academic theories and examples to support
your discussions. You are expected to use all material from lectures, seminars and also use an appropriate number of academic resources
including text books and peer reviewed academic journal papers.

Topic Break down Grade Points to Grade
Topic 1: (45%)
A 5% Use diagrams and flow charts to illustrate the
product movement and underpin the analysis
the supply chain network.
B 10% Describe and examine the warehouse facilities
(e.g., warehouse size, warehouse functions,
use of technology, etc.) and inventories (e.g.,
finished goods, work in progress, raw materials,
etc.)
C 10% Identify and explain the use of intermodal
choice
D 15% Critically evaluate the link between the
warehouse, inventory and the intermodal
choice based on a specific case
E 5% Examples from the literature sources, especially
recent articles from high impact journals.
Integration of theory and practice.
Topic 2: (45%)
A 10% Identify and explain the reasons and objectives
for location decision (e.g., historical reasons,
costs, service, revenue, etc.)
B 15% Facility location is affected by Factors such as
Supply-side factors (E.g., Labour costs, Land
costs, Energy costs, Transportation costs, and
Community factors) and Demand-side factors
(E.g., Suitability of site, Image of location, and
Convenience for customers).
Students need to list the factors and critically
evaluate their importance for the specific case.
C 15% Examine whether or not this location can

support the company’s future expansion (e.g.,
future growth potential, future changes in
demand and supply, etc.)
D 5% Examples from the literature sources, especially
recent articles from high impact journals.
Integration of theory and practice.
Presentation 10%
Total 100%
Assessment Criteria (NBS)
General Assessment Criteria
Trait 0 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 - 69 70 - 79 80 - 100
Knowledge and
Understanding
Majority of work is
neither relevant
nor accurate.
Performance
shows elements
of legitimate
content.
Legitimate
content but relies
heavily on the
descriptive.
Analysis may be
unsophisticated.
Knowledge base
is generally
sound and some
critical
appreciation
shown.
A maturing
ability to relate
theory and
evidence,
concepts and
ideas is
displayed.
Critical
appreciation is
evident.
Impressive
knowledge and
understanding.
Clearly
demonstrates
critical
appreciation.
Theory and
evidence are
invariably
related.
Excellent
knowledge and
appreciation for
subject.
Fastidious eye
for detail.
Structure and
Alignment
Often inarticulate
and can be
incomprehensible.
Content is more
often than not
inappropriate.
Work may
contain some
use of concepts,
but is poorly set
out and needs
an appropriate
focus.
Analysis usually
clear but can
lack some clarity
of focus.
Content is
always relevant,
generally well
focused and
organised.
Argument or
logical reasoning
is always
relevant and well
sustained.
Assured ability
to challenge
received wisdom
and to sustain
argument or
logical reasoning
under these
terms.

Module Specific Assessment Criteria
Trait 0 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 - 69 70 - 79 80 - 100
Knowledge and
Understanding
Majority of work is
neither relevant
nor accurate.
Performance
shows some
elements of
legitimate
content but is
clearly impacted
upon by any
number of
issues relating to
largely
insufficient
analysis and
evaluation of
warehousing,
transport and
inventory
management. It
is also likely that
the work
submitted does
not address the
assignment
requirements in
both content and
structure (see
below also).
Legitimate
content but the
work is too
descriptive either
in relation to Q1,
Q2 or both,
which impacts
upon the level of
sophistication of
argument and
evaluation of
warehouse and
transport
choice / strategy
and inventory
management. It
is unlikely that
the work
submitted has
addressed all of
the requirements
set of the
assignment.
Whilst the
warehousing /
inventory
management
and transport
knowledge base
is generally
sound and some
critical
appreciation is
evident, there is
potential for
further
development /
analysis / critical
evaluation.
A maturing
ability to relate
warehousing,
transport and
inventory
management
theory and
concepts to
evidence is
displayed.
Critical and
contextually
relevant
argument is
made in the
construction of
argument /
adoption of both
choice and
stance.
Argument or
logical reasoning
is always
relevant and well
sustained in
relation to
warehousing,
transport and
inventory
management
concepts, theory
and practical
applications in
relation to both
Q1 & Q2, in
ways which are
both contextually
relevant and
underpinned by
a thorough
literature base,
which in
likelihood,
extends beyond
the core
requirements of
the module.
The student
exhibits
excellent
warehousing,
transport and
inventory subject
knowledge and
critical
appreciation.
Further to this
there is clear
evidence of
higher level
critical analysis
and evaluation
of the subject in
relation to the
requirements of
the assignment.
A fastidious eye
for detail allows
the student to
develop both
depth and
breadth of
analysis, critical
discussion and
argument,
underpinned by
a thorough and
contemporary
literature base,
which
significantly

extends beyond
the core
requirements of
the module.
Structure and
Alignment
Often inarticulate
and can be
incomprehensible.
Content is more
often than not
inappropriate in
relation to
warehousing,
inventory
management
and transport. It
is unlikely that
the work
submitted has
addressed all of
the requirements
set of the
assignment.
Examples of this
could be an
insufficient and
inappropriate
literature base,
insufficient
description,
argument, poor
construction and
syntax. The
work would have
clearly benefitted
from proof
reading and
checking prior to
submission.
Insufficient
application and
skill in
deployment of
Work may
contain some
use of
warehousing /
transport and
inventory
management
concepts and
theory but they
lack
development
and appropriate
focus. It is likely
that the work
submitted has
not sufficiently
addressed all of
the requirements
set of the
assignment.
Examples of this
could be an
insufficient and
inappropriate
literature base,
insufficient
description,
argument, poor
construction etc.
The work would
have clearly
benefitted from
proof reading
and checking
prior to
Analysis of
warehousing,
transport and
inventory
management is
clear but would
benefit from
further
evaluation and
analysis. An
example of this
may be a better
engagement
with a more
contextually
relevant
literature base.
Consistent
deployment of
the Harvard
method,
although there is
room for further
development
and
improvement.
Content retains
a contextual
relevance,
underpinned by
a good literature
base. The work
is always
relevant and
generally well
focused and
organised,
displaying ability
by the student
identify and
discuss differing
viewpoints.
Good and
consistent
deployment of
the Harvard
method,
although there is
room for further
development
and
improvement.
There is clear
evidence that
the student has
addressed all of
the requirements
of the
assignment. The
work is always
relevant, well
focused and
organised. It
displays further
ability by the
student to
develop and
sustain
argument in
relation to
differing
concepts and
theories
extracted from a
thorough
literature base,
which in
likelihood,
extends beyond
the core
requirements of
the module.
Excellent and
consistent
deployment of
the Harvard
method.
Assured ability
to challenge
received wisdom
and to sustain
argument or
logical reasoning
under these
terms, both in
support and
criticism of
theories and
concepts, in
their relation to
‘real world’
warehousing,
transport and
inventory
management
operational
scenarios,
sizes / scales of
development.
This is further
underpinned by
a thorough
literature base,
which
significantly
extends beyond
the core
requirements of
the module.
Excellent and
consistent
deployment of

Harvard method. submission.
Deployment of
the Harvard
method is
present although
there is room for
further
development
and
improvement.
the Harvard
method.